Air-cooling apparatus for fruit.



3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

$3 v VViHEiiE'i IHVEHW 5 M %/J M Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

W. C. ANDERSON.

AIR COOLING APPARATUS FOR FRUIT.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1910.

1,024,763. Patentd Apr. 30, 1912.

II F I q m F X l Irv/EMT]? W. C. ANDERSON. AIR COOLING APPARATUS FOR FRUIT. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 1910.

1,024,763. Patented Apr. 30, 1912;

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WILLIAM C. ANDERSON, OF SAN JOSE, dALIFORNIA.

AracooLnvG ArrARArUs' r03 FRUIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.'30, 1912.

Application filed October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. ANDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air- Cooling Apparatus for Fruit, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of aircooling apparatus.

While my invention may be applied to the reduction of temperature for any purpose and upon any material, it is especially adapted for the cooling'of fruit, particu larly raisins, in which connection I shall, for illustration, describe its object. H

In the now well known and extensively practiced art of seeding raisins, there is 'a preliminary process which consists in first heatin the raisins and then' cooling them, the ob ect being to render" theirs stems, especially the short, individual capstems by which each raisin is joined to the main or cluster stem, sufficiently brittle to readily break ofi' without injury to the raisin, when subjected to abrading action of the capstemmer.

There is little difficulty in the heating process, but as the normal temperature in localities where raisins are grown and seeded is naturally very high, and as the final result is best when the cooling step is relatively quick, the matter of properly reduc-' ing the temperature of theraisins after bemg heated is not so easy of accomplishment, when both time and money must be considerecl.

The object of my invention may, therefore, be stated to be the provision-of means for effectively cooling the raisins both quickly and; at minimum expense, and this I attain by the use of air without regard to its normal or original. temperature, and by the economical use of water to reduce the temperature of the air, both uses being under conditions of mechanical structure and application which will best serve the purpose.

To this end my invention consi'sts in the novel apparatus which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim, reference being made to the accompanying drawingsfin which-- J Figure 1 ,is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my apparatus. ,Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, broken, .of the same, taken] through the upper portion of the airoooling chambers. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line m-aa of Fig. 2, the fruit cooling chamber of Fig. 1 being restored.

1 is a housing of suitable dimensions. This is divided horizontally by apartition 1 into a fruit-cooling chamber 2 above and an air cooling chamber below, the latter being itself divided vertically into two sections 3 and 4, access to which is had through a central passage 5 with man holes 6, the latter being indlcated in Fig. 3.

The cooling chamber 2 is for the fruit, which may be contained therein in any suitable manner, either being deposited, treated and removed in batches or carried through said chamber by continuous operation. In

the full expression of my invention in this regard, the latter course s deemed best,.and is carried out as follows: The coolmg chamber 2 is divided horizontally'by a partition 2 into an upper and a lower compartment. In the upper compartment is mounted an endless traveling screen carrier 7 with cross flights 8, said carrier being driven by a pulley 9. In the lower compartment is mounted a second similar carrier 10 with flights 11, and driven by a pulley 12. The feed hopper .13 communicates with one end of the upper course of the carrier 7 'At the end of this course. the carrier communicates through a chute .14 with the upper course of the lower carrier, and at the end of this course of the lower carrier the fruit is discharged over an apron 15, convenient means, not shown, being employed to receive and transport the material as it comesfrom the apron. The carriers travel in opposite directions, and this system may be multiplieditoany extent desired.

In one side of intake 16 which opens into the air cooling chamber 3. A similar air-intake 17 opens into the air cooling chamber d. In each of these air cooling chambers is a series of spaced wet curtains 18. These are near the air-intake side of the chamber and hang from theceiling to the floor, the latter being formed as a drip .tank 19. These curtains may be ofany suitable material such as burlap or other similar absorbent fabr'c.

the housing 1, is an air-3 Adjacent curtains are arranged to termina e short of opposite ends, so that the space between the intake and the first wet curtain communicates at one end with the space between the first and second curtains, and said last named space communicates at the other end with the space between the second and third wet curtains, and so on, so that the airis thus forced to travel through a long and tortuous course'between the wet curtains.

In the air cooling chamber sections 3 and 4:, beyond the series of wet curtains, is a series of dry curtains 20, spaced from each other and hanging from above, their lower edges terminating on a portion 21 raised above the level of the tank floor 19, so that they do not hang in the water. These drycurtains are also of some fabric, pervious to air, and their arrangement in the chambers is such that the air from the wet curtain series must pass through them.

22 are sprinkler pipes besides the upper portions of the wet-curtains, whereby water is delivered to said curtains. These pipes are supplied through Valve controlled con: nections at 23 from a water supply tank 241-.

The water from the wet curtains dripping into the tank floor 19 is taken by pipes 25 to a centrifugal pump 26, the discharge 2? from which leads back into the water supply tank 24, so that the same water is'used over again.

At one end of the housing 1 is a fan 28, the suction conduit 29 of which leads from the air cooling chamber section 3 at one side of the series of dry-curtains 20, and said fan delivers the air through a discharge conduit 30 into the upper compartment of the fruit cooling chamber, just above the upper course of the carrier therein,and at that end of said carrier where it delivers its material upon the lower carrier, so that the course of the cooling air through the upper compartment, as shown by the arrows, is against the travel of the fruit-,said upper compartment being open at A to provide a discharge for the air. At the other end of the housing 1 is a similar fan 31., drawing through a conduit 32 from the air cooling chamber section l, and delivering through a'conduit 33 into the lower compartment of the fruit cooling chamber, at that end of the carrier therein where it discharges its fruit, so that the course or" the air in this compartment is also against the travel of the fruit, as shown by the arrows, this lower compartment beingtlso provided with an air discharge outet l i The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-The fruit is fed at 13 to the carrier 7, and by it is conveyed forwardly. Tn its course it meets and is cooled by the cool air, which flows in an opposite direction to the travel of the material. This air is from the intake 16, which passing back and forth between t-he series of wet curtains is reduced in weaves temperature, and, by the rapid evaporation of its moisture carried particles in passing through the dry curtains, is further cooled. In like manner the fruit on the second carrier 10 is exposed to an oppositely flowin cool air current, derived from the intake 17, and cooled and dried by the wet and dry curtains in chamber section 4:. The water bers one of said chambers for each one of the first mentioned compartments, and each provided with means for cooling air, and means for conveying air from each one of the cooling chambers respectively to one of the material cooling chambers.

2. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for the material to be cooled and a separate chamber for coolingv the air, said lastnamed chamber having an intake communication with the outer air; a fan having a suction-conduit communication with the air-cooling chamber, and a discharge-conduit communication with the material-cooling chamber; a series of vertical curtains in said air-cooling chamber with which the air in its flow from the intake to the suction-conduit of the fan is brought in contact; means for keeping. said curtains wet with water; and a separate series of vertical dry curtains pervious to air, in said air cooling chamber, disposed therein to intercept the air in its flow from the wet curtains to the suction-conduit of the fan and cause said air to pass through them.

3. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for the material to be cooled and a separate chamber for cooling the air, said last named chamber having an intake communication with the outer air; a fan having a suction-conduit communication with the air cooling chamber, and a discharge-conduit communication with the material-cooling chamber; a series of spaced wetcurtains disposed within the air cooling chamber in the vicinity of the air intake and between which the air from said intake first flows; and a series of dry curtains pervious to air, in said chamber disposed between the series of wet curtains and the suction-conduit of the fan and arranged. to effect the passage of the air through said dry curtains.

a. All apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having a chamber divided into two compartments for the material to be cooled, a traveling'carrier in one of said compartments with means for supplying material to one end thereof, a second traveling carrier in theotherof said compartments with'means for receiving the material from the other end of the first named carrier and means for discharging said material from its end opposite to that at which it receives it, and means for shpplying a blast of air to the first compartment of the material cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein, and to the second compartment at'the delivery end of the carrier in said compartment.

5. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a'chamber for the material to be cooled and a separate chamber for cooling the air, said last named chamber having an intake communication with the outer air; a traveling carrier in the material-cooling chamber; means for supplying material to the carrier at one end; a fan having a suction conduit communication with the air-cooling chamber, and a discharge-conduit communication with the material-cooling chamber at that end of the carrier therein opposite to its materialrreceiving end, whereby the flow ofi air is directed against the travel of the material; curtains in said air cooling chamber with which the air in its flow from the intake to the suction-conduit of the fan is brought in contact; means for keeping said curtains wet with water; and dry curtains pervious to air, in said air cooling chamber disposed therein to intercept the air in its flow from the wet curtains to the suction-conduit of the fan and cause said air to pass through them.

6. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber for the material to be cooled and a separate chamber for cooling the air, said last named chamber having an intake communication with the outer air; a traveling carrier in the material-cooling chamber; means for supplying material to the carrier at one end; a fan having a suction-conduit communication with the air-cooling chamber, and a discharge-conduit communication with the material-cooling chamber at that end of the carrier therein opposite to its material-receiving end, whereby the flow of air is directed against. the travelof the material; a series of spaced wet curtains disposed within the air cooling chamber'in the vicinity of the air intake and between which the air from said intake first flows; and a series of dry curtains pervious to air, in said chamber disposed between the series of wet curtains and the suction-conduit of the fan and arranged to efiect the passage of the air through said dry curtains.

7. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber divided into separate compartments, for the material to be cooled, and a separate chamber for cool ing the air, said last named chamber being divided into two sections each having an intake communication with the outer air; a traveling carrier in one compartment of the material-cooling chamber, with means for supplying the material to one end thereof; a second traveling carrier in the other compartment of the material-cooling chamber, with means for receiving the material from the other end of the first carrier and means for discharging said material from its end opposite to that at which it receives it; afan having a suction-conduit communication with one of the sections of the air cooling-chamber and a dischargeconduit communication with the first "compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein; and a second fan having a suction-conduit communication with the other section of the air cooling chamber and a discharge-com duit communication with the second compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein.

8. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber divided into separate compartments, for the material to be cooled, and a separate chamber for cooling the air, said last named chamber being divided into two sections each having an intake communication with the outer air; a traveling carrier in one compartment of the material-cooling chamber, with means for supplying the material to one end thereof; a second traveling carrier in the other compartment of the material cooling chamber, with means for receiving the material from the other end of the first carrier and means for discharging said material from its end opposite to that at which it receives it; a fan having a suctionconduit communication with one of the sections of the air cooling-chamber and a discharge-conduit communication with the first compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein; a second fan having a suction conduit communica-i tion with the other section of the air cooling chamber and a discharge-conduit communication with the second compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the de livery end of the carrier therein; curtains in each of the sections of saidair cooling chamber with which the'air in its flow from the intakes to the suction-conduits of the fans is brought in contact; and means for keeping said curtains wet with water.

9. An air-cooling apparatus comprising a housing having a chamber divided into separate compartments, for the material'to be cooled, and a separate chamber for cool ing the air, said last named chamber being divided into two sections each having an intalre communication with the outer air; a traveling carrier in one compartment of the inaterial-cooling chamber, with means for supplying the material to one end thereof; a second traveling carrier in the other compartment of the material-cooling chamber, with means for receiving the material from the other end of the first carrier and means for discharging said material from its end opposite to that at which it receives it; a fan having a suction-conduit communication with one of the sections of the air cooling-chamber and a discharge-conduit communication with the first compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein; a second fan having a suction conduitcommunication with the other section of the air cooling chamber and a discharge-conduit communication with the second compartment of the material-cooling chamber at the delivery end of the carrier therein; curtains in each of the sections, of said air-cooling chamber with which the air in its flow from the in takes to the suction-conduits of the fans is brought in contact; means for keeping said curtains wet with water; and dry curtains pervlous to air, in each of said sections of the air cooling chamber disposed therein to intercept the air in its flow from the wet curtains to the suction-conduits of the fans and cause said air to pass through them.

10. An apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having in the upper part thereof a chamber for the material to be cooled, an air cooling chamber located beneath the first mentioned chamber and having an intake communication with the outer air, air cooling means in said chamber, means for drawing air through the air cooling chamber to the material cooling chamber, and a passage within the, housing extending longitudinally thereof beneath the material coolingchamber and leading from the air cooling chamber to said last mentioned means.

11. [in apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having in the upper part thereof a charrber for the mate rial to be cooled, an air cooling chamber located beneath the first mentioned chamber and having an intake communication with the outer air, air cooling means in said chamber, means for drawing air through the air cooling chamber to the material cooling chamber, and a passage within the housing extending longitudinally thereof beneath the material cooling chamber to one side oi the air cooling chamber and leading from the air cooling chamber to said last mentioned means.

121th apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having in its upper part a chamber for the material to be cooled extending longitudinally thereof, an

noacyz ce air cooling chamber extending transversely of the housing beneath the first mentioned chamber and terminating short of one of the side walls of the housing, said air cooling chamber having an intake opening through one side of the housing air cooling means in said chamber, means for drawing air through the air cooling chamber to the material cooling chamber, and a passage within the housing leading from the inner end of the air cooling chamber to said last mentioned means.

13. An apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having in its upper part a chamber for the material to be cooled extending longitudinally thereof, an

air cooling chamber extending transversely of the housing beneath the first mentioned chamber and terminating shortof one of the side walls of the housing, said air cooling chamber having an intake opening through one side of the housing, means for drawing air through the air cooling chamber to the material cooling chamber, a passage within the housing leading from the inner end of the air cooling chamber to said last mentioned means, a series of spaced wet curtains disposed within the air cooling chamber adjacent its air-intake opening, and a series of dry curtains, ervious to air, in said chamber disposed lictween the series of wet curtains and said passage.

14. An apparatus of the character set forth comprising a housing having a chamber divided into two compartments for the material to be cooled, and a separate air cooling chamber divided into two sections each having an intake communication with the outer air, a traveling carrier in one compartment of the material cooling chamber, means for supplying material to one end of said carrier, at second traveling carrier in the other compartment of the material cooling chamber with means for receiving the material from the delivery end of the first mentioned carrier and means for discharging said material from its end opposite to that at which it receives it, air cooling means in each compartment oi? the air cooling chamber and separate means for drawing air through each of said compartments to the respective sections of the material cooling chamber,

15, An apparatus of the ciharacter set forth comprising a housing having in its upper portion a chamber extending longitudinally thereoi and divided. into two compartments for the material to be'cooied, and separate air cooling chambers extending transversely of the housing beneath the first named chamber, each of said chambers being provided with air openings extending througlra side wall of the housing, a fan having a discharge conduit communicating with one of the compartments of the ma- 1,024,763 v L a terial cooling chamber, asecond fan having In testimony whereof I have signed my a discharge conduit communicating with the name to this specification in the presence of other compartment of the material cooling two subscribing Witnesses. chamber, and separate-passages in the hous- WILLIAM C. ANDERSON. ing leading from the respective cooling Witnesses:

chambers to the suction inlets of the respec-- WM. F. BOOTH, tive fans. D. B. RICHARDS. 

